Structural posts and panel connectors including panel structure

ABSTRACT

An interlocking post-joint structure for forming rectangular metal posts adapted to function alone or to support one, two, three, or four panels of a wall in planar or right angle positions, and which posts, for all of the aforesaid arrangements, have four interlocking sides formed from combinations of extrusion strips of different or identical outer cross-sectional contours but internally having identical interlocking means integral therewith, adapted to interlock against separation in directions normal to the respective sides of each post when held in assembled relation.

United States Patent Louis R. Klein 1328 Vista Granda, Milbrae, Calif. 94030 757,583

Sept. 5, 1968 June 22, 1971 Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented STRUCTURAL POSTS AND PANEL CONNECTORS INCLUDING PANEL STRUCTURE 2,020,502 11/l935 Goddard 52/238 3,378,977 4/1968 Vervl0et.. 52/285 3,293,812 12/1966 Hammitt 52/238 FOREIGN PATENTS 383,596 1/1965 Switzerland 52/494 Primary Examiner-Frank L. Abbott Assistant Examiner.lames L. Ridgill, Jr. AttorneyBoyken, Mohler, Foster & Schwab ABSTRACT: An interlocking post-joint structure for forming rectangular metal posts adapted to function alone or to support one, two, three, or four panels of a wall in planar or right angle positions, and which posts, for all of the aforesaid arrangements, have four interlocking sides formed from combinations of extrusion strips of difierent or identical outer cross-sectional contours but internally having identical interlocking means integral therewith, adapted to interlock against 3,420,504 1/1969 Mulitz 52/731 separation in directions normal to the respective sides of each 1,842,308 1/1932 Bohnsaek 52/732 post when held in assembled relation.

PATENIEU JUH22 IBTI 3:585 768 sum 2 or 2 7 INVENTOR.

00/5 1% (AI/N irrom/im STRUCTURAL POSTS AND PANEL CONNECTORS INCLUDING PANEL STRUCTURE BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the assembly and arranging of panels where a coupling means or joint structure is employed to connect adjacent panels, the coupling means normally provides a post, and heretofore a large stock of such coupling or post forming means has been required to satisfy the demands for different relationships between the panels, such as where a different number of panels from one to four are to be joined and are coplanar or are at right angles to each other.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of post structure in which only two different extrusion metal strips are required to provide at least six different arrangements of panels to meet every situation from a single, rectangular post independent of panels, to each of the five different arrangements in.which panels for the partitions or open-sided booths, may be supported. Each post comprises four extrusion strips having identical internal configurations movable to interlocking position when the strips are in parallel, side-by-side relation, and when the strips are at a right angle to each other to form a square post, they are locked together against movements in directions normal to the respective sides when held together in fully assembled relation.

One strip may be secured to each of the opposite edges of each panel where a pair orseveral pairs of panels are to connect with each other before the panels are erected, whether the panels are room-height or less than room-height, and thereafter the strips are connected to form the post. In each instance a post is formed, and the interlocking means for the posts are identical in each instance.

The structure in which only two extrusions are required, for all of the different arrangements, enables a builder to stock as few as only two extrusions, with a corresponding saving in the cost of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. I is a semidiagrammatic plan view showing each of six different combinations of the elements of the posts in building structure.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the portion shown in FIG. 1, some of the panels being indicated at room-height and others at less than room-height.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged isometric end view of one end portion of a strip of a pair, for use in forming different combinations of four strips showing the basic interlocking structure independently of panels or the like.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged isometricend view of one end portion of the other strip of the pair for use in forming different combinations of four strips.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a post connecting four panels, with two panels shown in movement to interlocking relation, or from such relation.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing one of different means that may be employed for holding the panels at the ceiling and floor during erection of the panels or later.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing another means than is shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a post and one of different means that may be employed to hold the strips of a post together during assembly of the strips.

FIG. 9 is a side-elevational view of the means shown in FIG. 8 for holding the strips assembled.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing an assembly of a post in which each of the partitions is of different thickness. The dot-dash lines shown in this view indicate the lines about which the interlocking portions are developed.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary isometric view of a modification of means for holding the interlocking means on four extension strips together.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION At the left end of FIGS. 1, 2 is a single post, generally designated 1, which post, in building structure, may support directional signs, the post being compatible in appearance with the posts that support and position partition or wall panels.

Post 1 is made up of four identical extrusion strips, each generally designated 3, the cross-sectional contour being shown in FIG. 3, it being understood that the inside configuration of the post itself is the same in all posts, irrespective of whether the outside configuration is planar, as in post 1 of FIG. I or as in the post of FIG. 11, or whether the outside configuration has flanges, or a tongue, or projections of any kind.

In FIG. I, at the righthand side of post 1, are the partition or wall arrangements, in which vertical, rectangular panels 4 are supported and connected by posts that incorporate extrusion strips 5, shown in detail in FIG. 4. The panels, themselves, may be hollow, conventional panels, or solid panels; however, the interlocking means of strips 3, 5 are identical, irrespective of whether one or more panels is or are positioned by a post. Each strip 5 has a flat, planar outer side and said outer side is formed with a pair of spaced, opposed, parallel flanges 6 extending perpendicular from said outer side. The vertically extending marginal portion along a vertical edge of the panel is fitted between said pair of flanges 6, and said strip may be secured to one or both opposite vertical edges of each panel by screws 7. A vertically extending V-groove 8, formed in the side of the strip spaced between the lateral sides of the strip, may function for positioning screws or for locating a drill to form openings for the screws that are adapted to secure the strips to the panels. Obviously any suitable adhesive may secure the strips to panels in some instances.

If the panels of 1.375 inches thickness, which is common in building structure, are used, the space between the opposed surfaces of the flanges 6 will be approximately L385 inches so that the marginal portions of the panels will fit in the channels defined by the flanges 6 and the wall of the strip forming one of the outer sides of the post. The thickness of the panel of maximum thickness substantially determines the width of the strip 5, and consequently the width-dimension of each side of the post, whether each side comprises a strip 5 or a combination of strips 3 and 5.

In FIG. I, a post generally designated 9 is at one end of a partition wall and is made up of three strips 3 and one strip 5, the latter being along one edge of a panel 4. The next post 10 from post 9 is intermediate the ends of the partition wall and has two strips 5 and two strips 3 with strips 5 in spaced opposed relation to hold two adjacent panels in coplanar relation. The next post from post 10 is a corner post 1 1 having two strips 3 at a right angle to each other forming one outer corner of the post, and two strips 5 forming the inner corner for receiving the edges of a pair of adjacent panels to form the adjoining walls made up of panels 4. An aisle 12 may be between post 11 and a post 13 opposed thereto, the latter being made up of three strips 5 and one strip 3 to form a connectionbetween a pair of coplanar panels 4 and a panel extending at a right angle to said coplanar panels. The latter panel may be one of several that are joined by posts similar to post 10, and one of said panels may include a post 14 in which all of the strips correspond to strip 5, and provide a juncture post for walls intersecting at a right angle and extending oppositely outwardly from the point of intersection.

As seen in FIG. 2, the panels need not all extend to the ceil ing, while others may extend to the ceiling. In many rooms, rows of open-sided booths may be provided by opposed pairs of parallel horizontally spaced panels connected at one of their ends by a wall or third panel by means of posts l1, 13, or 14, according to the number of booths desired. Obviously, openings may be provided in any of the panels wherever desired.

FIG. I0 is merely illustrative of a situation where the panels may be of different thicknesses, and in each the interlocking means are identical with those shown in FIGS. 3, 4. The extrusion strip 17 of FIG. 10 may be for panels of 0.75 inch thickness, and if this thickness is consistent in the partition or wall structure, strips I7 and are all that would be required to form the posts 9, 10, II, 13, 14 of FIG. 1, since the spacing between flanges 18 would be the same. Strip 19 of FIG. is for panels that may be of a thickness of 0.50 inch, while strip 20 may be for panels having a thickness of 0.25 inch. As hereinbefore mentioned, the panels may be secured to the strips by adhesive or other suitable means, and the panels in strips 19, 20 may be of glass or other solid material cemented in position, or seated in mastic or any other suitable material.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, each of the four strips of a post is formed along one of its longitudinally extending edges, with an outwardly opening recess 21 having sides of semicylindrical contour, and along the opposite longitudinally extending edge of the strip is a projection 22 having a semicylindrical outer surface that is complementary to that of the sides of recess 21, and that is adapted to fit in recess 21. The outer surface 23 of each strip 3, 5 may be flat and substantially planar, and where flanges 6 are provided they project perpendicular to each surface 23. The recess 21 along one edge of each strip 3, 5 opens outwardly at an angle of 45 away from and outwardly of surface 23 while projection 22 projects at an angle of 45 outwardly of and away from surface 23 at the other edge of each strip.

By this structure, it is obvious that three of the strips may readily be assembled when the strips are separated and with the planes of the strips at right angles to each other by laterally inserting the projection along one edge of two adjacent strips into the recess along the edge of the other of said adjacent pair, and inserting the projection along said edge of the other of said adjacent pair.

FIG. 5 shows three of four strips in assembled relation. When these three are at a right angle to each other, the fourth strip for connecting the three and for forming the fourth side of the post, cannot be moved to interlock with the pair of opposed strips of said three, without one of the three slightly swinging along its free edge away from the corresponding free edge of the strip opposed thereto.

To complete the assembly, the projection 22 (FIG. 5) along one edge of the fourth strip is positioned in the recess 21 along the free edge of one of the three strips, and the portion along the other edge of said fourth strip having a recess 21 therein is swung toward projection 22 along the free edge of one of the other of said three strips, and the latter is slightly swung outwardly so that portion 24 defining one side of the semicylindrical recess 21 along said edge of the fourth strip will clear the cylindrical projection 22 on said other of said three strips, and said projection will then be seated in said recess.

The development of the preferred form of interlocking means is most clearly shown in FIG. 10, irrespective of whether or not the post is to stand alone, such as post 1, or whether the post includes panel supporting flanges of different spacing for panels of different thicknesses.

From the foregoing, it is seen that each pair of complementarily formed interlocking means comprises a recess 21 and a projection 22. The post, when assembled, and whether or not flanges 6 are formed thereon, is square. The centers about which the cylindrical surfaces of said projections and recesses are formed are positioned on a circular line 25 (FIG. 10) developed about the center of the post. Said cylindrical surfaces themselves are substantially the same although the radius about which the surface of each recess is developed may be very slightly greater than the radius about which the cylindrical surface of each projection is developed.

The portion of each strip at opposite sides of the recess therein is formed with coplanar flat surfaces 27 (FIGS. 3, 4) that are substantially coincidental with diagonally extending lines 28 (FIG. 10) that intersect at right angles at the center of the post portion, and at opposite sides of each projection 22 on the same lines 28 are correspondingly positioned flat surfaces 29 (FIGS. 3, 4). When the interlocking recesses and projections are in interlocking relation the surfaces 27, 29 at the adjacent corners of adjacent pairs of strips are in abutting relation. Thus, these surfaces provide positioning means for positioning the strips at right angles to each other when said surfaces are in said abutting relation.

One or more relatively short, split, cylindrical bow-spring clips 29' (FIG. 5) may hold adjacent pairs of strips together during assembly of the post to facilitate the assembly, or in the case of posts that do not extend to the ceiling, a generally U- shaped clip 30 (FIG. 9) may be positioned over the upper end of each post with the legs 3] of the clip extending into opposedly opening recesses 32 respectively adjacent recesses 21 and projection 22 of each strip (FIG. 8). It is to be understood that the clips 29' and 30 are merely examples of expedients that may be used for convenience. When the strips are at right angles to each other with the interlocking means in interlocking relation, and are held in this relation, the strips cannot be separated by movement of the strips having panels connected thereto in a direction in the planes of the panels nor can strips without panels be moved out of interlocking relation in a direction normal to the plane of each strip.

Different procedures may be followed in setting up a partition or wall or in any construction requiring joining of panels in which posts are formed at the junctures. In FIG. 5, for example, where four panels meet a post is automatically formed by forming the panels with the interlocking means. Two of the panels, designated 33, 34 in FIG. 5, each with a strip 5 connnected thereto, may be in interlocking relation at their adjacent edges and held at their lower edges against movement out of right angle relation to each other by any suitable temporary means, such as blocks nailed or secured to the floor at 0pposite sides of each panel. The third panel 35 may be positioned approximately at a right angle to panel 33 with the projection 22 on strip 5 on panel 33 in the recess of strip 5 that is on panel 35. If desired, one or more spring clips 29' may connect the strips 5 on panels 33, 35 to hold them together.

The fourth panel 36 is then swung about the connection between strip 5 on panel 34 and strip 5 on panel 36 to a position at a right angle to panel 34 by slightly swinging panel 35 to permit the connection between the interlocking means on strips 5 that are on panels 35, 36. Panel 35, when moved back to a right angle position relative to panel 36 will be locked to panels 33, 34 and 36 and none of the panels can be separated by movement in the planes of the panels when panels 35, 36 are held at right angles to each other and respectively to panels 33, 34.

If desired, inverted standard channel strips 37 (FIG. 6) may be secured to the ceiling (where the panels extend to the ceiling) in positions slightly spaced above the upper edges of the panels, the upper marginal portions of the panels may project above the upper ends of the strips 5 a distance approximately equal to the depth of the channels, after which wedges 38 below the panels may move the upper marginal portions of the panels into said channel strips 37, and conventional base strips 39 may be secured along the floor to the latter and to the panels and may also extend over the lower portions of strips 5.

FIG. 7 shows ceiling strips 40 and base strips 41 nailed or secured to the ceiling and floor to hold the panels against swinging laterally to out of interlocking connection with the posts.

Obviously, in the case of a single post 1, as at the left end of FIG. 1, base and ceiling members similar to 41, 42 secured against either two opposite strips or against each strip at either its upper or lower ends, will hold the strips 3 in interlocking relation, or means such as the bow clips 29' or end clips 30 may be used to hold the strips together.

Many different expedients, according to the ingenuity of the builders or users, may be employed to hold strips of each post at right angles to each other once the strips are assembled in interlocking relation, and the positioning surfaces 27, 28 are in engagement with each other, one of the preferred forms being shown in FIG. 11, comprising a pair of T-shaped members each having a flat head 44 provided with a pair of enlarged end portions 45, 46 that project to the side of the head v44 opposite to the leg 47 of the T-shaped member. These enlarged end portions are adapted to slidably fit in the opposedly opening end recesses 32' at the ends of recess 32 sliding longitudinally of each strip but with sufficient frictional resistance to preclude free sliding under the influence of gravity.

The leg 47 of each member is adapted to extend slightly more than half way across the space between an opposed pair of strips 3 or 5, and the outer end is enlarged and is formed with a bevelled outer surface 48 at an angle of approximately 45 relative to the leg 47. One terminal end of this surface 48 connects with a flat surface 49 extending to and at a right angle to leg 47,

The leg 47 is offset to one side of a point midway between an opposed pair of the strips 3, or the post forming portions of strips 5, so that when a pair of said T-members are supported in a post on one pair of opposed strips, in opposed relation, the bevelled end surfaces 48 will engage each other, and when the interlocking means on the strips are approximately in interlocking relation, and are pressed into full interlocking relation, the legs 47 are sufficiently resilient to result in the toothlike enlargements on the outer ends of the legs 47 to cam past each other and to snap into locking relation as seen in FIG. 11.

This form of holding means has the advantage that it may be carried by two of the strips and need not be applied as the strips are assembled, as in the case of the bow springs 29, and the elements 30. Each of the T-members is the same, in structure, it and the enlargement 46 at one end of each member is formed with a notch that is complementary in outline to a rectangular rib on the outer side of the recess 21. The length of each member is relatively short, as seen in FIG. 1 l, and they may be carried near the ends of the strips.

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be considered restrictive to any particular form of panels, whether glass, wood, plastic, concrete or the like. If of the latter struc' ture, it is obvious coaxial openings 50 may be formed in the flanges on strip for a pin or other projection and a thicker panel or slab of concrete cast against the outer side of the strip enclosing and extending through openings 50 or enclosing a pin so as to be inseparably bonded to the strip. For such panels would be assembled in exactly the same manner as described for FIG. 5 and the maximum thickness of the panel would be only limited by the width of the strips. All panels or slabs to be united may be of the same structureor a combination of different panels of different materials.

lclaim:

l. A hollow, structural post comprising:

a. four, equal width, elongated, parallel extrusion strips of rigid material having planar outer surfaces in adjacent pairs in engage ment with each each other along one of the longitudinally extending edges of the strips of each adjacent pair and disposed at right angles to each other providing a square cross-sectional contour having four comers respectively at the engaging edges of the adjacent pairs of strips,

b. a pair of corresponding interlocking means respectively formed in the strips of each adjacent pair at the inner side of said post at each of said comers, one of the interlocking means of each adjacent pair comprising a recess formed along one longitudinally extendingedge of one strip of each adjacent pair extending the full length of said one strip, having a curvilinear concave, substantially semicylindrical wall-surface and an open side facing toward the other strip at each comer at an angle of approximately 45 relative to the strip in which the recess is formed, and the other interlocking means of eachadjacent pair of strips comprising a projection on the other longitudinally extending edge of each strip having a convex cross-sectional contour complementary to the recess formed in said one edge and removably seated within said recess,

c. positioning means respectively formed on and integral with the strips of said adjacent pairs at each of said corners in separable engagement at each corner for positioning said strips at right angles to each other when said projections are seated within said recesses,

d. said projections being positioned within said recesses through the open sides of the latter, and the wall surfaces of said recesses extending around said projections when said projections are seated within said recesses a sufficient distance to hold said strips locked together at each comer against movement outwardly of said post when any opposed pair of said strips are held in parallel opposed planes against movement out of right angle relation to either of the other strips of said post. 

1. A hollow, structural post comprising: a. four, equal width, elongated, parallel extrusion strips of rigid material having planar outer surfaces in adjacent pairs in engage ment with each each other along one of the longitudinally extending edges of the strips of each adjacent pair and disposed at right angles to each other providing a square cross-sectional contour having four corners respectively at the engaging edges of the adjacent pairs of strips, b. a pair of corresponding interlocking means respectively formed in the strips of each adjacent pair at the inner side of said post at each of said corners, one of the interlocking means of each adjacent pair comprising a recess formed along one longitudinally extending edge of one strip of each adjacent pair extending the full length of said one strip, having a curvilinear concave, substantially semicylindrical wall-surface and an open side facing toward the other strip at each corner at an angle of approximately 45* relative to the strip in which the recess is formed, and the other interlocking means of each adjacent pair of strips comprising a projection on the other longitudinally extending edge of each strip having a convex cross-sectional contour complementary to the recess formed in said one edge and removably seated within said recess, c. positioning means respectively formed on and integral with the strips of said adjacent pairs at each of said corners in separable engagement at each corner for positioning said strips at right angles to each other when said projections are seated within said recesses, d. said projections being positioned within said recesses through the open sides of the latter, and the wall surfaces of said recesses extending around said projections when said projections are seated within said recesses a sufficient distance to hold said strips locked together at each corner against movement outwardly of said post when any opposed pair of said strips are held in parallel opposed planes against movement out of right angle relation to either of the other strips of said post. 